Click here for part 1.
How then do we discern God’s will? A better question is this: What do we mean by the phrase “discerning God’s will?” Are we referring to God’s purposes decreed from eternity past? Because of the way I see the phrase used, I have my doubts. Are we referring to making day to day decisions? That seems to be correct. When most Christians say, “I want to discern God’s will,” they are simply asking this question: What ought I do?
Do I take this job or that job? Should I go out with/marry this person? Should I return to graduate school? Am I called to ministry? Should I rent or should I buy? Which college should I attend?
When the question is phrased in the form, what ought I do?, it much easer to approach because it is much less intimidating. Removed are the mysterious overtones of the concept of “God’s will.” In fact, it is easy to answer in the case when the decision is between a right and a set of wrongs.
When a Christian is confronted to make a decision between a right (as in good) and a set of wrongs (as in evil), the correct choice is easy. Choose that which is righteous. Two sets of friends invite you for a Friday night outing. One set wants to frequent a brothel, the others want to attend a worship service. Which choice honors God?
Even in more complex decisions, there is almost always a set of evil choices—these should be excluded from the list of viable options. Do your best to limit your choices to those that honor God.
From the aforementioned, the responsibility of the Christian to know what is morally right and wrong is clear. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Christian to be a student of the Bible and person of prayer. Ignorance of the Word leads to sin, and the sloth in prayer communes not with the Holy Spirit. Because many Christians fail to know the Word and pray, they cannot see the will of God—what they ought to do.
For example, there are many Christians who are debating if they belong in the dating relationship in which they currently reside. The other is not a Christian, or is a fleshly Christian. Many aspects of the relationship have been compromised, and there is a strong sense of guilt or conviction. The obvious answer is to get out—and fast. If they knew the Word, they would know 2 Corinthians 6:14 (perhaps not by reference, but its content): “Do no be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” Yet they do not obey because of their strong emotional connection, which they interpret to be a divine revelation to remain in the relationship. Their judgment is impaired, and they see as good that which is easily judged harmful.
Tommorrow, Part 3 of 4. "What about the small things?"
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Knowing the Will of God -- Part 1 of 4
In their day to day lives, many Christians are enslaved to a subjective means of “discerning God’s will.” I know that theological discussion on the will of God is a controversial issue in and of itself, but the way many Christians use the term “God’s will” or “will of God” in conversation is almost blasphemous. Some rely on subjective feelings to determine “God’s will” for their lives, and others use the term—which includes the name of God—as a means to their own selfish and manipulative ends.
What comes to mind is a “Christian” pickup line that I read couple years ago. The man approaches the woman in a British, debonair manner—with all class and sophistication—and introduces himself. “My name is Will…God’s Will.”
As amusing as that pickup line is, it is also representative of the ignorant arrogance of the average Christian in knowing God’s will. I’ve been that foolish in the past. However, after reading the Scriptures, God by his grace has corrected me of such foolish thinking. The pickup line also demonstrates the danger of the phrase “will of God.”
Why is it so dangerous? First, it is a very intimidating phrase. When the words “God’s will” vibrate the eardrums of many Christians, they are immediately reverent to them and the words that precede or follow them. Christians can be a trusting, but naïve, bunch, and many predatory vultures can use this to their advantage. Countless immoral relationships began with a guy—or girl—saying, “God told me that…” Even more heresies began with similar sayings. The Christian who is a babe in the Word will be easily convinced to comply.
Not only do these words lead many astray, they are also blasphemous. Many predators know how manipulative the words “God’s will” can be, and it troubles not their conscious to use the name of God to their advantage. Essentially, they are heralding words on God’s behalf that God did not speak. This is a direct violation of the Third Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain.”
Tommorrow, Part 2 of 4. "How do we discern God's will?"
What comes to mind is a “Christian” pickup line that I read couple years ago. The man approaches the woman in a British, debonair manner—with all class and sophistication—and introduces himself. “My name is Will…God’s Will.”
As amusing as that pickup line is, it is also representative of the ignorant arrogance of the average Christian in knowing God’s will. I’ve been that foolish in the past. However, after reading the Scriptures, God by his grace has corrected me of such foolish thinking. The pickup line also demonstrates the danger of the phrase “will of God.”
Why is it so dangerous? First, it is a very intimidating phrase. When the words “God’s will” vibrate the eardrums of many Christians, they are immediately reverent to them and the words that precede or follow them. Christians can be a trusting, but naïve, bunch, and many predatory vultures can use this to their advantage. Countless immoral relationships began with a guy—or girl—saying, “God told me that…” Even more heresies began with similar sayings. The Christian who is a babe in the Word will be easily convinced to comply.
Not only do these words lead many astray, they are also blasphemous. Many predators know how manipulative the words “God’s will” can be, and it troubles not their conscious to use the name of God to their advantage. Essentially, they are heralding words on God’s behalf that God did not speak. This is a direct violation of the Third Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain.”
Tommorrow, Part 2 of 4. "How do we discern God's will?"
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
New Blog Links
I have put some new blog on my BlogRoll under links on the left:
1. Slice of Laodicea
This blog comments on the contemporary church and the watering down of the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ. This has great commentary on the mega-church, church growth, church marketing movement.
2. The Calvinist Gadfly
This blog typically comments on Calvinism/Election doctrine questions. It's a good blog, explaining well the differences between predestination/free-will debate.
1. Slice of Laodicea
This blog comments on the contemporary church and the watering down of the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ. This has great commentary on the mega-church, church growth, church marketing movement.
2. The Calvinist Gadfly
This blog typically comments on Calvinism/Election doctrine questions. It's a good blog, explaining well the differences between predestination/free-will debate.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
When the World is Right...
This week, the Southern Baptist Convention resolved to ban alcohol--declaring that all practicing members of the demonination should abstain from it. Now, neither my wife nor I drink anything whatsoever, so the resolution doesn't bother me because it convicts me.
What bothers me is the legalistic nature of the ban. Are we not drawing lines where the Lord has not? Anyway, I ran into a new blog that cracks me up: Purgatorio. This post concerning this issue made me laugh out loud. It's Anhieser Busch's response to the SBC ban, and we should be humbled that a beer company made a nice jab.
What bothers me is the legalistic nature of the ban. Are we not drawing lines where the Lord has not? Anyway, I ran into a new blog that cracks me up: Purgatorio. This post concerning this issue made me laugh out loud. It's Anhieser Busch's response to the SBC ban, and we should be humbled that a beer company made a nice jab.
Justification—the Heart of the Gospel
Salvation is a word that embodies within its own meaning many marvelous doctrines concerning our redemption in Christ: Election, effectual calling, adoption, regeneration and sanctification, perseverance and preservation, eternal life and glorification—among others. However, there is but one doctrine that supplies the lifeblood to all the others; that gives the redeemed hope, assurance, and all confidence. There is but one doctrine that is necessary to understanding the gospel message, and if the sinner were not to understand it—or to understand it and deny or reject it—he cannot be saved.
That doctrine is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. All of the other doctrines that pertain to our salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ are nourished by substance of justification. Election ordains its coming to the sinner, and the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit convinces the sinner of its need. It is the basis of our reconciliation to God and His adoption of us as sons, and It marks the point at which the sinner is reborn, thus embarking the process of sanctification—by which the sinner becomes more and more an image of its [justification] decree. Its effect is the preservation and security of the sinner in his salvation, and by its decree, he is assured that upon his resurrection he will stand in glory with Christ for eternity.
It has one, sole foundation upon which it stands: The Person and Work of Christ Jesus—in his life, in his death, and in his resurrection. In the act of justification, God pardons the sinner of his sin and decrees him to be righteous and acceptable in his sight—on the basis of Jesus Christ and his finished Work. By my trust in His Son alone, my sin is credited to the account of Christ and His perfect righteousness to mine. Therefore, for me to stand justified, Jesus must be my substitute. He had to live perfectly in my stead; He had to endure the wrath of the Father in my place; and, He rose again to demonstrate that His work is complete and accepted of the Father, has effected our redemption, and shall forever stand. Justification is entirely the work and doing of God; it is not the product of my achievements.
Do not take my mere word, for it is the proclamation of the Scriptures! Throughout all of God’s Word, justification by grace through faith alone is taught. We sinners can only find approval in the sight of holy God by his grace. Let us let the Word of God speak for itself.
In Genesis, we are told that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD,” then we are told that “Noah was a just man.” (Gen 6:8-9) Later we are told that Abraham “believed [faith] in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” In Psalm 32, we are told, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity…I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” In Isaiah 53, “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows…He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed…the LORD has lain on Him the iniquity of us all…For the transgressions of My people He was stricken…He shall bear their iniquities…He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many…”
Jesus tells us in the book of John, “He who believes [faith] in Me is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already.” (John 3:18) In Acts, Paul preaches, “By him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39) Paul proclaims to the Romans, “…But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed…even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe…[those who believe are] being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith….that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom 3:21-26) “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” (Rom 4:4-5) “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace God through our Lord Jesus Christ…Much more, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him [Christ]. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom 5:1, 9-10) To the Corinthians, Paul pleads “…be reconciled to God, for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor 5:20b-21)
In Galatians, Paul writes, “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” (Gal 2:21) “If there had been a law which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe…Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:21-24) In Ephesians, Paul again tells us that the grace of God “made us accepted in the Beloved [Christ].” (Eph 1:6)
There are countless others in the Scriptures that declare this wonderful doctrine of justification! Upon it our confidence and assurance rests, for in our confession of Christ as Lord by faith in Him, God pardoned us from all sin. He declared us acceptable and righteous! He laid the guilt of our trespasses upon the shoulders of his Son, and He crushed it under the weight of His everlasting, infinite wrath! The He clothed us—those who have trusted in his Son—in the righteousness of Christ.
The effects of redemption are clearest in the results of justification. Sin? Removed! Guilt? Pardoned! Wrath? Satisfied in the cross! Enmity? Gone. Righteousness? Given. Through the atoning work of Christ, by the grace of God, and in my trust in Him, God gives me a legal, forensic status change in His eyes. No longer am I guilty, but innocent and righteous. No longer am I an object of His wrath, but an object of His love and mercy. No longer should I fear the flames of hell, but I am assured the hope of an everlasting salvation resulting in eternal life—for God has eternally declared my righteousness in his sight through the blood of his Son, Jesus.
That doctrine is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. All of the other doctrines that pertain to our salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ are nourished by substance of justification. Election ordains its coming to the sinner, and the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit convinces the sinner of its need. It is the basis of our reconciliation to God and His adoption of us as sons, and It marks the point at which the sinner is reborn, thus embarking the process of sanctification—by which the sinner becomes more and more an image of its [justification] decree. Its effect is the preservation and security of the sinner in his salvation, and by its decree, he is assured that upon his resurrection he will stand in glory with Christ for eternity.
It has one, sole foundation upon which it stands: The Person and Work of Christ Jesus—in his life, in his death, and in his resurrection. In the act of justification, God pardons the sinner of his sin and decrees him to be righteous and acceptable in his sight—on the basis of Jesus Christ and his finished Work. By my trust in His Son alone, my sin is credited to the account of Christ and His perfect righteousness to mine. Therefore, for me to stand justified, Jesus must be my substitute. He had to live perfectly in my stead; He had to endure the wrath of the Father in my place; and, He rose again to demonstrate that His work is complete and accepted of the Father, has effected our redemption, and shall forever stand. Justification is entirely the work and doing of God; it is not the product of my achievements.
Do not take my mere word, for it is the proclamation of the Scriptures! Throughout all of God’s Word, justification by grace through faith alone is taught. We sinners can only find approval in the sight of holy God by his grace. Let us let the Word of God speak for itself.
In Genesis, we are told that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD,” then we are told that “Noah was a just man.” (Gen 6:8-9) Later we are told that Abraham “believed [faith] in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” In Psalm 32, we are told, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity…I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” In Isaiah 53, “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows…He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed…the LORD has lain on Him the iniquity of us all…For the transgressions of My people He was stricken…He shall bear their iniquities…He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many…”
Jesus tells us in the book of John, “He who believes [faith] in Me is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already.” (John 3:18) In Acts, Paul preaches, “By him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39) Paul proclaims to the Romans, “…But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed…even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe…[those who believe are] being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith….that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom 3:21-26) “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” (Rom 4:4-5) “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace God through our Lord Jesus Christ…Much more, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him [Christ]. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom 5:1, 9-10) To the Corinthians, Paul pleads “…be reconciled to God, for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor 5:20b-21)
In Galatians, Paul writes, “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” (Gal 2:21) “If there had been a law which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe…Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:21-24) In Ephesians, Paul again tells us that the grace of God “made us accepted in the Beloved [Christ].” (Eph 1:6)
There are countless others in the Scriptures that declare this wonderful doctrine of justification! Upon it our confidence and assurance rests, for in our confession of Christ as Lord by faith in Him, God pardoned us from all sin. He declared us acceptable and righteous! He laid the guilt of our trespasses upon the shoulders of his Son, and He crushed it under the weight of His everlasting, infinite wrath! The He clothed us—those who have trusted in his Son—in the righteousness of Christ.
The effects of redemption are clearest in the results of justification. Sin? Removed! Guilt? Pardoned! Wrath? Satisfied in the cross! Enmity? Gone. Righteousness? Given. Through the atoning work of Christ, by the grace of God, and in my trust in Him, God gives me a legal, forensic status change in His eyes. No longer am I guilty, but innocent and righteous. No longer am I an object of His wrath, but an object of His love and mercy. No longer should I fear the flames of hell, but I am assured the hope of an everlasting salvation resulting in eternal life—for God has eternally declared my righteousness in his sight through the blood of his Son, Jesus.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Bloverwhelmed
There are so many good blogs in the Blogosphere, which is hopefully not an outdated term. It is easy to sink hours in the evening trying to catch up on them--which gets me thinking.
How do these blogger keep up with everything? Where do they get the time? Not only do they track other blogs, but they also read heavy books and the Bible--as well as hold and work secular jobs. It is quite amazing to see how fast information travels through this realm. It overwhelms me to try to keep up with it all.
Over the next few days, I am going to link to the very resourceful blogs out there as I find them. I will post them over to the left under "Links".
How do these blogger keep up with everything? Where do they get the time? Not only do they track other blogs, but they also read heavy books and the Bible--as well as hold and work secular jobs. It is quite amazing to see how fast information travels through this realm. It overwhelms me to try to keep up with it all.
Over the next few days, I am going to link to the very resourceful blogs out there as I find them. I will post them over to the left under "Links".
Monday, June 19, 2006
Interesting Read
Al Mohler was on Larry King again this past Thursday as a representative of the evangelical movement. The discussion centered on the ordination of homosexuals into the clergy. Here is the transcript of the discussion, it makes for an interesting discussion on epistemology within the church. There is a huge divergence of opinion between that of Mohler that of Andrew Sullivan and Gene Robinson--The openly gay bishop in the Episcopalian church.
It is a must read. The only persons in the entire interview who has his sight set upon the word of God as revealed in the Scriptures are Al Mohler and David Anderson. The rest used their sense of the "Spirit of God" to be the authority in matters of faith and practice.
You can see the supporters of gays in church leadership "crawfish" (a cajun term for wriggling) out of the clear condemnations of homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. I am also surprised at the arrogance of picking and choosing of what God really said in the Bible.
Here are a few select quotes, and we'll start with Andrew Sullivan, the openly gay, Catholic, Time columnist:
Interesting... He seems to think that as long as he admits he's gay, his homosexuality is perfectly fine in the sight of God. What about the other commandment not to commit adultery? What about the Genesis account defining marriage as between man a woman for the purpose of procreation?
Later, Sullivan interjects when Anderson presents the reason he is not in support of the ordination of gays.
Yet he did the exact same when he said "God taught me not to bear false witness." Why choose that commandment over the sexual condemnations? This question also changes the subject to a matter that can't be discussed in a five-person panel interview in five minutes. These liberals don't directly deal with issues, the only dodge and redirect.
I'll give one more quote, from Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of the Episcopalian Church:
How do we know that the messages we are getting now are from God? How do we know that Paul and Moses messes up on the issue of homosexuality? Is God a schizophrenic?
Robinson is correct in saying that a 2000 year-old interpretation could be wrong, but he has no idea that his hermeneutical approach brings every moral statement of the Bible into question of its source--not just the laws concerning sexuality.
It is a must read. The only persons in the entire interview who has his sight set upon the word of God as revealed in the Scriptures are Al Mohler and David Anderson. The rest used their sense of the "Spirit of God" to be the authority in matters of faith and practice.
You can see the supporters of gays in church leadership "crawfish" (a cajun term for wriggling) out of the clear condemnations of homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. I am also surprised at the arrogance of picking and choosing of what God really said in the Bible.
Here are a few select quotes, and we'll start with Andrew Sullivan, the openly gay, Catholic, Time columnist:
I am a Catholic and people often ask me, how can you be openly gay and be a Catholic? And my response is always I'm openly gay, because I'm a Catholic, because God taught me not to bear false witness to who I am and my faith is something that I really have no choice over. I've tried. I've had a terrible struggle with my own faith, but God wouldn't let me go and he keeps bringing me back and he keeps saying to me, in the Eucharist and in the church I love you and you belong here. And I want you to have a loving relationship and I feel that my own relationship is a gift from God. I cannot alone in my conscience before God believe otherwise. So I can do no other. I'm here because I have no choice.
Interesting... He seems to think that as long as he admits he's gay, his homosexuality is perfectly fine in the sight of God. What about the other commandment not to commit adultery? What about the Genesis account defining marriage as between man a woman for the purpose of procreation?
Later, Sullivan interjects when Anderson presents the reason he is not in support of the ordination of gays.
Larry, may I say the scripture is clear and scripture says that I should be put to death. The very verse that says that shalt not lie with another man as one does with a woman, says that I should face the death penalty. That's clear. Is that the policy of Reverend Mohler and the other gentlemen? Why is that not taken seriously?
Yet he did the exact same when he said "God taught me not to bear false witness." Why choose that commandment over the sexual condemnations? This question also changes the subject to a matter that can't be discussed in a five-person panel interview in five minutes. These liberals don't directly deal with issues, the only dodge and redirect.
I'll give one more quote, from Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of the Episcopalian Church:
Yes, Larry, I think it's really important to understand that being certain about something does not necessarily -- even if you're certain about it for 2,000 years doesn't make it right. The church was pretty certain that scripture justified slavery and that only changed about 150 years ago. We were pretty certain for 2,000 years that women had no place in the leadership of the church. But we worship a God who is not locked up in scripture 2,000 years ago, but continues to reveal God's self to us. It's not God that's changing. It's our understanding. We're being led by the Holy Spirit to understand in a new way what God was intending. The question before us right now is, might God be intending something different in our welcome of gay and lesbian people that's not been true for the last 2,000 years? And would that not be God's will for us?
How do we know that the messages we are getting now are from God? How do we know that Paul and Moses messes up on the issue of homosexuality? Is God a schizophrenic?
Robinson is correct in saying that a 2000 year-old interpretation could be wrong, but he has no idea that his hermeneutical approach brings every moral statement of the Bible into question of its source--not just the laws concerning sexuality.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
New Blog Location
I've now moved my blog to blogger.com due to the constant advertisement comments I had at my .Text blog. I will eventually repost the best of my earlier articles, but I will put my new posts here at this new blog.
Hopefully, I will have time to post more often than I have in the recent past. This whole "settling down" concept of marriage is a farce, man. I've never been busier.
Hopefully, I will have time to post more often than I have in the recent past. This whole "settling down" concept of marriage is a farce, man. I've never been busier.
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